empowering parents in the digital age

“I learned that once you post something online it can fade but never goes away. Just like a tattoo.”

“I learned that I should never post anything online that I wouldn’t say in real life. Or if you wouldn’t say it face to face, don’t say it in digital space.”

These quotes from local students were gathered by My Digital TAT2, a Palo Alto organization that educates both youth and adults about how to leave a positive impact while navigating through apps, text messages, email and beyond.

Erica Pelavin and Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, co-founders of My Digital TAT2

My Digital TAT2 was founded six years ago by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, and Erica Pelavin, parents and licensed social workers who saw a need to educate children, parents and teachers about what is sometimes called ‘digital citizenship,’ or behaving online in a way that is congruent with what is expected in classrooms and at home.

Since starting the organization, Gloria and Erica have facilitated conversations with over 16,000 students all over California about how to be positive online and avoid actions they may regret when they get older. As one student said on My Digital TAT2’s website, “If you do something now online and try to get a job later, people may not hire you if you post something they do not like. They will think you are not someone they want to hire.”

Creating new definition of online safety

With its parent education, My Digital TAT2 aims to shift the focus away from worry about safety and fear to encouraging online kindness. During a recent talk at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, a global gathering of over 30,000 cyber security experts, Gloria and Erica were barraged by questions about how to help children navigate the digital landscape.

“We believe good old-fashioned parenting is the best defense against digital danger”

“We heard the same concerns from parents in Bangladesh that we have discussed at Addison Elementary in Palo Alto,” said Erica. “Everyone is looking for a more humanistic approach to online security for kids.”

Tapping the expertise of local teens as ‘digital natives’

As a part-time counselor at Eastside College Prep and the mother of two boys who have grown up in Palo Alto, Erica is always learning more about how teens interact with technology. “We have a pulse on what kids are doing online that’s different from most parents,” she said. “We see how quickly the technology is moving by reaching out to learn from youth, because they are the experts.”

To best capture the insights of these ‘digital natives,’ Erica and Gloria formed a Teen Advisory Board made up of students from Eastside College Prep as well as local high schools including Gunn and Paly.

My Digital TAT2 works with local teens to stay up to speed

“Our teen advisors constantly challenge our assumptions,” Erica said. “For example, a common misperception from parents is that their children use apps like Instagram to seek recognition and even fame, but teens tell us that what matters to them is staying relevant to their peers.”

Technology addiction afflicts parents and kids alike

“We used to train parents about how to help their kids manage digital distraction, but now we see the issue running both ways,” said Erica. “Kids can’t get their parents’ attention because devices are everywhere, from meals to sports events- it’s a challenge for all of us.”

Taking parent ed to the workplace

My Digital TAT2 is moving parent education seminars to the workplace, a shift that reflects the difficulty of getting parents to come to school events. “In Palo Alto and elsewhere, more parents are working and the old paradigm is changing,” Erica explained. “Companies like HP see My Digital TAT2 training as a wellness benefit for employees that they are excited to provide.”

Training medical professionals to understand role of technology for kids

My Digital TAT2 is also working closely with Kaiser Permanente to develop training for physicians who treat children and youth to understand how the online world impacts health for young people.

“As I listened to the My Digital TAT2 educational session, which introduced an overview of the mysterious world where young people create their personas, I noticed how silent and engaged my colleagues were,” said Dr. Todd Dray of Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center. “What we learned was so fascinating that we have already invited the My Digital TAT2 team back for more in-depth workshops, as there is a growing realization that our young patients’ online health often mirrors other more traditional aspects of their health.”

Empowering parents to engage with their kids’ online lives

My Digital TAT2’s founders are passionate about helping parents understand what their kids are doing online- whether it is Musical.ly or Minecraft, rather than stepping back due to lack of information or fear.

“I used to tell my sons to stop staring at the computer and go outside to play,” Erica admits. “But I realized over time that I was better off engaging with what my children were doing online than admonishing them. Just like navigating real world challenges like drinking or drugs, dialogue about online activity is key. I like the bowling analogy- if parents know what their kids are doing, they can ‘throw up the bumpers’ if things are getting too risky.”

As My Digital TAT2 co-founder Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet said in a recent editorial published by the San Francisco Chronicle, “We believe good old-fashioned parenting is the best defense against digital danger. There is good news about what our kids are doing online — they are growing up.”